Well, it is Winter in Mexico, and in not-much-of-a-change from the usual procedure, Forza Horizon 5 has a load of new weekly events to take part in, thanks to the Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges for Series 15 Winter.
With Christmas just around the corner and this being the last weekly round up before the break, we’ll try to go out on a high.
Part 1: #Forzathon Weekly Challenge – Mexican Supercar
As Richard Hammond learned to his cost, there is no future in insulting the Mexican supercar industry, so we’ll focus on the positives.
The car this week is the VUHL 05RR, according to the game “A vehicle of ultraweight and high performance”.
Now, to me, Ultraweight says it is very heavy, and this is clearly not the case, since it looks like it weighs the same as a packet of Kleenex. Still, it is a mere 100,000 credits to buy at the Autoshow, if you don’t have one tucked away.
Chapter 1 – Echieveerria Production
Get in your Vuhl and take her for a spin. Start off easy, eh?
Chapter 2 – Road and Racing
As the VUHL is optimised for on track performance, but remains road legal, we need to utilise this mix of both worlds and win a Road Racing event.
Pick your favourite and let rip!
Chapter 3 – Light n’ Fast
Apparently this car can reach a top speed north of 170 mph. We now have to do this speed for a whole 15 seconds.
This is easy enough on the highway in the middle of the map, and I tweaked mine a little to give the top end it needed. The share code is: 162207372.
Chapter 4 – Like a Feather
The VUHL is very light (a bit more than a feather, but still) and to celebrate this lightness, we need to score three stars on any Danger Sign. Pick one you can do with your eyes shut would be my advice, and the one either at the end of the highway, or the one on the Mexico Festival runway are pretty easy.
Stage one of the weekly events is now done.
Part 2 – Weekly Challenges
Like a pair of Christmas pants that nobody wants, the Eventlab makes a comeback this week; the Brussels Sprouts on the Xmas dinner of deliciousness that the rest of the week’s challenges bring.
I don’t like sprouts, and I don’t usually like the Eventlab, so I shall wait and see.
In other news, the Trial is back, and some more racing championships to have a crack at, as well as the usual PR Stunts. Let’s get stuck in!
The Trial – Santamental Feelings
Oh my, the Xmas puns start early this week.
We are charged with finding a Retro Saloon, tuned up a maximum of B Class 700, and then gathering a likely crew of racers from the internet to batter a load of Unbeatable Driverbots.
It’s been a while since I’ve had to say this, but I feel a reminder is warranted – this is a team event. This means that if you put me, or anyone else, wide of a checkpoint or into a wall, you hurt the whole team. Please consider that when you go into the first corner at Warp Factor 9!
Anyway, the car I chose was an Sierra Cossie RS500 on dirt tyres. Code – 156659146.
Our prize for all this jolly cooperation is a Holden HQ Monaro GTS 350. A snappy title, I think you’ll agree?
Eventlab – Presents Noches de Neon – Neon Nights
Well, here we go, it is finally back. This time we need an A Class 800 car, any A Class car, and since there is no point spending money unnecessarily, I’d stick with the same car we just did the Trial in. You do do these in order, right?
Anyway, this is neon track, nice looking but lacking in flow, with some truly ridiculous hairpins thrown in. Still two laps and done!
Our reward for indulging the ego of the track designer is a new song for the radio, Porter Robinson – Language. Never heard of it.
Seasonal PR Stunt – Speed Trap -Sendero
You know the routine by now – zoom past a camera at a ridiculous speed to earn a prize.
The camera this time is Sendero, and the only restriction is that the car we use has to be S2 998 class. With this trap being offroad, and the speed being 160mph, the only option is the BMW X5 M Forza Edition, and my share code is: 519084427.
We can take away a Super Wheelspin if we hit the seasonal target.
Seasonal PR Stunt – Speed Zone – Punta de Vista
To round off our Christmas speeding (gotta get home before the turkey is cold, I guess) we have to maintain an average speed through this speed zone. In an S2 Class 998 car no less.
The speed we need to beat is 100 mph, offroad, and so the only car for the job is that BMW again from the last challenge.
Another Super Wheelspin will be yours if you can keep the car on the road.
Seasonal Championship – All the Trimmings
Assuming this isn’t referring to my Christmas shave, it must be a series of races.
For this championship, we need to use a Rally Monster class car, to a maximum of A Class 800. Now, whenever I hear the word Rally, my mind straight away goes to Scooby or an Evo, but apparently they aren’t monstrous enough and instead I went with a lightly modified Hoonigan Cossie V2, and the share code is:140648350.
With so little headroom left, I pretty much just lightened it a tad. Stock will probably work just as well.
We can take away an Exomotive Exocet for winning the championship solo, or for best two races out of three in a convoy.
Seasonal Championship – Candlelight Parade
Even given the fact the class for this championship is Retro Sports Cars, I think they will have electric lights in them, not candles. Still, it is an evocative title, isn’t it?
So, with a limitation of C Class 600 in place, I went with a car I have loved since watching Initial D, many years ago, the Toyota Trueno GT Apex AE86. What an awesome little car this is, and my tune is: 823447314.
It does seem odd making this thing grip, instead of going everywhere sideways!
Winning will net us a BMW Z4 Roadster, not awfully retro.
Seasonal Championship – Oh Deer
We need to utilise an Unlimited Offroad car, to a maximum of A Class 8-00 for these races. Hopefully I can find something that isn’t too “deer”! Sorry, I’ll get my coat…
Anyway, I went with a classic, and very eco friendly, Extreme E No.44 car, and the share code is: 164790581. It does still seem odd to not hear an engine when going full pelt through the bush. Matron.
Winning this series of races will get us a VW Class 5 Bug .Which is better than a poke in the eye, I guess…
Part 3 – Other Challenges
Moving onto the last section of goodness in Mexico, we have a motley selection of things to check out this week. There’s a photo challenge, featuring a snowman for a change, and a smashable challenge as well as the Eliminator to play.
Photo Challenge – #HIDEANDSEEK
We don’t need a car this week, just some sleuthing skills to find a snowman that is hiding at the Buenas Vistas player house in Cabo San Lucas. He is just to the left of the front door, and all lit up, so pretty simple to find.
I’ll share my photo of the sneaky snowman, and the location below. We will win a “Merry Christmas” car horn for getting all snap happy.
The Eliminator – Finish in the Top 30
As it says in the title, we need to load into an Eliminator game, and then by hook or by crook, we need to survive into the top 30. Whether you do this by being aggressive and going for the car drops and battling, or by hiding in a bush on a mountain (my preferred approach) simply get into the Top 30 to win a huge prize.
A Gingerbread Outfit, that’s how huge.
Seasonal Collectible – Let it Snow
Now for something completely different, as John Cleese would say.
Now, go to the top of Gran Cladera, find 20 snowmen, and smash them to pieces! Yep, no namby pamby photos here, just some chilly carnage. I’ll include a photo of the target and the location below.
Once we have smashed 20, we will receive a Snowman Outfit. Hopefully no one will drive into us.
Part 4 – Hot Wheels Events
The weekly word of caution first, you must have reached Elite rank in the Hot Wheels Expansion in order to take part in these events.
Seasonal PR Stunt – Speed Trap – Horizon Nexus
We need to fly past this trap at a ridiculous speed this week – 260mph.
Clearly the only car for the job is the trusty Koenigsegg Agera, and my share code is: 409466764.
A Super Wheelspin is adequate recompense I feel.
Seasonal Championship – Canyon and On
Slightly slower than the Speed Trap, this week’s championship requires us to use a Track Toy car tuned to a max of S1 Class 900. So, I went with a Porsche 911 GT2 Rs, and the share code is: 129258081.
Hold on tight, take it by the scruff of the neck and show it who’s boss. Much like my wife does with me.
Triumphing, alone or with friends (I remember when I had friends who played this game) will get us a Porsche Cayman GT4.
Winter has hit Series 15 but the opportunity to earn new cars in Forza Horizon 5 continues nonetheless. The challenges above mostly help you earn points towards those cars, with the Caddy Limo and M-B 300 SLR on offer throughout Winter.
You’ll be able to earn extra points by taking in the Monthly Rivals events too, nailing clean laps around both the Estadio Circuit and/or the Arch of Mulege Circuit (Forza EV). There are also a host of Daily Challenges to enjoy too.
Those points will also go towards the Series 15 main rewards and should you have been following our guides for Summer and Autumn, should be well on the way to gathering up enough points for the No. 22 Extreme E for 80pts and the Ferrari Cali T for 160pts.
Series 15 of the Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges will end as we reach the conclusion of Spring, but you’ll at least find the AMC Rebel and the Porsche 911C2 GW up for offer then. After that? Series 16!
To take part in the Forza Horizon 5 Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges, you just need a copy of the game in your digital library. It’s playable on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S or PC. If you don’t yet have it, the Xbox Store will sort you out, either for cash or through the power of Game Pass.
As always, we’d love to hear what you think of this article. The comments are below and we’re always waiting over on the usual social channels.
